GORDON 
BOTTOMLEY 

THE  RIDING 
TO   LITHEND 

Mdccccx 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


THE  RIDING  TO  LITHEND 


THE  RIDING  TO  LITHEND 
A  PLAY  IN  ONE  ACT  BY 
GORDON    BOTTOMLEY 


PORTLAND  MAINE 

THOMAS    B    MOSHER 

MDCCCCX 


COPYRIGHT 

THOMAS  B  MOSHER 

I9IO 


TO   EDWARD  THOMAS 

T  T  ERE  in  the  North  we  speak  of  you, 

*-  ^   And  dream  {and  wish  the  dream  were  true) 

That  when  the  evening  has  grown  late 

You  will  appear  outside  our  gate  — 

As  though  some  Gipsy-Scholar  yet 

Sought  this  far  place  that  men  forget ; 

Or  some  tall  hero  still  unknown, 

Out  of  the  Mahinogion, 

Were  seen  at  nightfall  looking  in, 

Passing  mysteriously  to  win 

His  earlier  earth,  his  ancient  mind, 

Where  man  was  true  and  life  more  kind 

Lived  with  the  mountains  and  the  trees 

And  other  steadfast  presences. 

Where  large  and  simple  passions  gave 

The  insight  and  the  peace  we  crave. 

And  he  no  more  had  nigh  forgot 

The  old  high  battles  he  had  fought. 

Ah,  pause  to-night  outside  our  gate 
And  enter  ere  it  is  too  late 


255985 


To  see  the  garden  i  deep  on  deep 
And  talk  a  little  ere  we  sleep. 

When  you  were  here  a  year  ago 

I  told  you  of  a  glorious  woe, 

The  ancient  woe  of  Gunnar  dead 

And  its  proud  train  of  men  long  sped, 

Fit  brothers  to  your  noble  thoughts; 

Then,  as  their  shouts  and  Gunnar  s  shouts 

Went  down  once  more  undyingly 

And  the  fierce  saga  was  put  by, 

I  told  you  of  my  old  desire 

To  light  again  that  bygone  fire. 

To  body  Hallgerd's  ruinous 

Great  hair  and  wrangling  mouth  for  us, 

And  hear  her  voice  deny  again 

That  hair  to  Gunnar  in  his  pain. 

Because  your  heart  could  understand 
The  hopes  of  their  primeval  land, 
The  hearts  of  dim  heroic  forms 
Made  clear  by  tenderness  and  storms. 
You  caught  my  glow  and  urged  me  on  ; 
So  now  the  tale  is  once  more  done 
I  turn  to  you,  I  bring  my  play. 
Longing,  O  friend,  to  hear  you  say 
I  have  not  dwarfed  those  olden  things 
Nor  tarn  is  ht  by  my  furbishings. 


VI 


/  brhig  my  play^  I  turn  to  you 
And  wish  it  might  to-night  be  true 
That  you  would  seek  this  old  small  house 
Twixt  laurel  boughs  and  apple  boughs ; 
Then  I  would  give  it,  bravely  manned, 
To  you,  and  with  my  play  my  hand. 

June  30th.,  1908. 


THE  RIDING  TO  LITHEND 


PERSONS 

GUNNAR   HAMUNDSSON 

HALLGERD  LONGCOAT,  his  Wife 

RANNVEIG,  his  Mother 

ODDNY,  ASTRID,  and  STEINVOR,  Hall- 
gerd's  House-women 

ORMILD,  a  Woman  Thrall 

BiARTEY,  JofRID,  and  GUDFINN,  Beggar- 
women 

GizuR  THE  White,  Mord  Valgard- 
sson,Thorgrim  the  Easterling, 

THORBRAND     THORLEIKSSON      and 
A  S  B  R  A  N  D     his     Brother,     AUNUND, 
ThoRGEIR  and  HroALD,  Riders 
Many  other  riders  and  voices  of  riders 

In  Iceland,  A.  D.  990 


THE  RIDING  TO  LITHEND 

77?^  scene  is  the  hall  of  GUNNAR'S  house  at 
Lithend  in  South  Iceland.  The  portion 
shewn  is  set  on  the  stage  diagonally,  so  that 
to  the  right  one  end  is  seen  while,  from  the 
rear  corner  of  this,  one  side  runs  down 
almost  to  the  left  front. 

The  side  wall  is  low  and  wainscotted  with  carved 
panelling  on  which  hang  weapons,  shields, 
and  coats  of  mail.  In  one  place  a  panel 
slid  aside  shews  a  shut  bed. 

In  front  of  the  panelling  are  two  long  benches 
with  a  carved  high-seat  between  them. 
Across  the  end  of  the  hall  are  similar  pan- 
ellings and  the  seats,  with  corresponding 
tables,  of  the  women's  dais;  behind  these 
and  in  the  gable  wall  is  a  high  narrow  door 
with  a  rounded  top. 


A  timber  roof  slopes  down  to  the  side  wall  and  is 
upheld  by  cross-beams  and  two  rows  of  tall 
pillars  which  make  a  rather  narrow  nave 
of  the  centre  of  the  hall  One  of  these  rows 
runs  parallel  to  the  side  wall,  the  pair  of 
pillars  before  the  high-seat  being  carven  and 
ended  with  images ;  of  the  other  row  only 
two  pillars  are  visible  at  the  extreme  right. 

Within  this  nave  is  the  space  for  the  hearths ; 
but  the  only  hearth  visible  is  the  one  near 
the  women's  dais.  In  the  roof  above  it 
there  is  a  louvre :  the  fire  glows  and  no 
smoke  rises.  The  hall  is  lit  everywhere  by 
the  firelight. 

The  rafters  over  the  women's  dais  carry  a  floor 
at  the  level  of  the  side  walls,  forming  an 
open  loft  which  is  reached  by  a  wide  ladder 
fixed  against  the  wall :  a  bed  is  seen  in 
this  loft.  Low  in  the  roof  at  intervals  are 
shuttered  casements,  one  being  above  the 
kft:  all  the  shutters  are  closed. 

Near  the  fire  a  large  shaggy  hound  is  sleeping ; 
and  Or  MILD,  in  the  undyed  woollen  dress 
of  a  thrall,  is  combing  wool. 

ODDNY  stands  spinning  at  the  side ;  near  her 
ASTRID  and  STEINVOR  sit  stitching  a 
robe  which  hangs  between  them. 


ASTRID 

IGHT  is  a  winter  long  :  and  eve- 
ning falls. 

Night,  night  and  winter  and  the 
heavy  snow 

Burden  our  eyes,  intrude  upon  our 
dreams, 
And  make  of  loneliness  an  earthly  place. 

ORMILD 

This  bragging  land  of  freedom  that  enthralls  me 
Is  still  the  fastness  of  a  secret  king 
Who  treads  the  dark  like  snow,  of  old  king  Sleep. 
He  works  with  night,  he  has  stolen  death's  tool  frost 
That  makes  the  breaking  wave  forget  to  fall. 

ASTRID 

Best  mind  thy  comb-pot  and  forget  our  king 

Before  the  Longcoat  helps  at  thy  awaking 

I  like  not  this  forsaken  quiet  house. 

The  house-men  out  at  harvest  in  the  Isles 

Never  return.     Perhaps  they  went  but  now, 

Yet  I  am  sore  with  fearing  and  expecting 

Because  they  do  not  come.  They  will  not  come. 

I  like  not  this  forsaken  quiet  house. 

This  late  last  harvest,  and  night  creeping  in. 


ODDNY 

I  like  not  dwelling  in  an  outlaw's  house. 
Snow  shall  be  heavier  upon  some  eyes 
Than  you  can  tell  of  —  ay,  and  unseen  earth 
Shall  keep  that  snow  from  filling  those  poor  eyes. 
I'his  void  house  is  more  void  by  brooding  things 
That  do  not  happen  than  by  absent  men. 
Sometimes  when  I  awaken  in  the  night 
My  throbbing  ears  are  mocking  me  with  rumours 
Of  crackling  beams,  beams  falling,  and  loud  flames. 

ASTRID,  pointing  to  the  weapons  by  the  high-seat 

The  bill  that  Gunnar  won  in  a  far  sea-fight 
Sings  inwardly  when  battle  impends ;  as  a  harp 
Replies  to  the  wind  thus  answers  it  to  fierceness. 
So  tense  its  nature  is  and  the  spell  of  its  welding  ; 
Then  trust  ye  well  that  while  the  bill  is  silent 
No  danger  thickens,  for  Gunnar  dies  not  singly. 

STEINVOR 

But  women  are  let   forth   free  when   men  go 
burning .? 

ODDNY 

Fire  is  a  hurrying  thing,  and  fire  by  night 
Can  see  its  way  better  than  men  see  theirs. 


ASTRID 

The  land  will  not  be  nobler  or  more  holpen 
If  Gunnar  burns  and  we  go  forth  unsinged. 
Why  will  he  break  the  atonement  that  was  set  ? 
That  wise  old  Njal  who  has  the  second  sight 
Foretold  his  death  if  he  should  slay  twice  over 
In  the  same  kin  or  break  the  atonement  set : 
Yet  has  he  done  these  things  and  will  not  care. 
Kolskegg,  who  kept  his  back  in  famous  fights, 
Sailed  long  ago  and  far  away  from  us 
Because  that  doom  is  on  him  for  the  slayings ; 
Yet  Gunnar  bides  although  that  doom  is  on  him 
And  he  is  outlawed  by  defiance  of  doom. 

STEINVOR 

Gunnar  has  seen  his  death  :  he  is  spoken  for. 
He  would  not  sail  because,  when  he  rode  down 
Unto  the  ship,  his  horse  stumbled  and  threw  him, 
His  face  toward  the  Lithe  and  his  own  fields. 
Olaf  the  Peacock  bade  him  be  with  him 
In  his  new  mighty  house  so  carven  and  bright. 
And  leave  this  house  to  Rannveig  and  his  sons  : 
He  said  that  would  be  well,  yet  never  goes. 
Is  he  not  thinking  death  would  ride  with  him  ? 
Did  not  Njal  offer  to  send  his  sons, 
Skarphedin  ugly  and  brave  and  Hauskuld  with  him, 
To  hold  this  house  with  Gunnar,  who  refused  them. 


Saying  he  would  not  lead  young  men  to  death  ? 
I  tell  you  Gunnar  is  done His  fetch  is  out. 

ODDNY 

Nay,  he's  been  topmost  in  so  many  fights 
That  he  believes  he  shall  fight  on  untouched. 

STEINVOR 

He  rides  to  motes  and  Things  before  his  foes. 
He  has  sent  his  sons  harvesting  in  the  Isles. 
He  takes  deliberate  heed  of  death  —  to  meet  it, 
Like  those  whom  Odin  needs.     He  is  fey,  I 

tell  you  — 
And  if  we  are  past  the  foolish  ardour  of  girls 
For  heroisms  and  profitless  loftiness 
We  shall  get  gone  when  bedtime  clears  the  house. 
*T  is  much  to  have  to  be  a  hero's  wife, 
And  I  shall  wonder  if  Hallgerd  cares  about  it  : 
Yet  she  may  kindle  to  it  ere  my  heart  quickens. 
I  tell  you,  women,  we  have  no  duty  here  : 
Let  us  get  gone  to-night  while  there  is  time, 
And  find  new  harbouring  ere  the  laggard  dawn, 
For  death  is  making  narrowing  passages 
About  this  hushed  and  terrifying  house. 

RANNVEIG,  an  old  luimpled  woman,  enters 
as  if  from  a  door  at  the  unseen  end  of  the 
hall 


8 


ASTRID 

He  is  so  great  and  manly,  our  master  Gunnar, 
There  are  not  many  ready  to  meet  his  weapons  : 
And  so  there  may  not  be  much  need  of  weapons. 
He  is  so  noble  and  clear,  so  swift  and  tender, 
So  much  of  Iceland's  fame  in  foreign  places. 
That  too  many  love  him,  too  many  honour  him 
To  let  him  die,  lest  the  most  gleaming  glory 
Of  our  grey  country  should  be  there  put  out. 

RANNVEIG 

My  son  has  enemies,  girl,  enemies 
Who  will  not  lose  the  joy  of  hurting  him. 
This  little  land  is  no  more  than  a  lair 
That  holds  too  many  fiercenesses  too  straitly, 
And  no  man  will  refuse  the  rapture  of  killing 
When  outlawry  has  made  it  cheap  and  righteous. 
So  long  as  any  one  perceives  he  knows 
A  bare  place  for  a  weapon  on  my  son 
His  hand  shall  twitch  to  fit  a  weapon  in. 
Indeed  he  shall  lose  nothing  but  his  life 
Because  a  woman  is  made  so  evil  fair, 
Wasteful  and  white  and  proud  in  harmful  acts. 
I  lose  two  sons  when  Gunnar's  eyes  are  still. 
For  then  will  Kolskegg  never  more  turn  home.  .  .  . 
If  Gunnar  would  but  sail  three  years  would  pass; 
Only  three  years  of  banishment  said  the  doom  — 


So  few,  so  few,  for  I  can  last  ten  years 
With  this  unshrunken  body  and  steady  heart. 

To  Ormild. 

Have  I  sat  down  in  comfort  by  the  fire 

And  waited  to  be  told  the  thing  I  knew? 

Have  any  men  come  home  to  the  young  women, 

Thinking  old  women  do  not  need  to  hear, 

That  you  can  play  at  being  a  bower-maid 

In  a  long  gown  although  no  beasts  are  foddered  ? 

Up,  lass,  and  get  thy  coats  about  thy  knees, 

For  we  must  cleanse  the  byre  and  heap  the 

midden 
Before  the  master  knows  —  or  he  will  go, 
And  there  is  peril  for  him  in  every  darkness. 

ORMILD,  tucking  up  her  skirts 

Then  are  we  out  of  peril  in  the  darkness.'' 
We  should  do  better  to  nail  up  the  doors 
Each  night  and  all  night  long  and  sleep  through  it, 
Giving  the  cattle  meat  and  straw  by  day. 

ODDNY 

Ay,  and  the  hungry  cattle  should  sing   us  to 
sleep. 

77?^  others  laugh.  ORMILD  goes  out  to  the 
left;  RANNVEIG  is  following  her,  but 
pauses  at  the  sound  of  a  voice. 

10 


HALLGERD,  beyond  the  door  of  the 
women  s  dah 

Dead  men  have  told  me  I  was  better  than  fair, 
And  for  my  face  welcomed  the  danger  of  me : 
Then  am  I  spent? 

She  enters  angrily,  looking  backward  through 
the  doorway. 

Must  I  shut  fast  my  doors 
And  hide  myself?     Must  I  wear  up  the  rags 
Of  mortal  perished  beauty  and  be  old  ? 
Or  is  there  power  left  upon  my  mouth 
Like  colour,  and  lilting  of  ruin  in  my  eyes? 
Am  I  still  rare  enough  to  be  your  mate? 
Then  why  must  I  shame  at  feasts  and  bear  myself 
In  shy  ungainly  ways,  made  flushed  and  conscious 
By  squat  numb  gestures  of  my  shapeless  head  — 
Ay,  and  its  wagging  shadow  —  clouted  up. 
Twice  tangled  with  a  bundle  of  hot  hair, 
Like  a  thick  cot-quean's  in  the  settling  time? 
There  are  few  women  in  the  Quarter  now 
Who  do  not  wear  a  shapely  fine-webbed  coif 
Stitched  by  dark  Irish  girls  in  Athcliath 
With  golden  flies  and  pearls  and  glinting  things  : 
Even  my  daughter  lets  her  big  locks  show, 
Show  and  half  show,  from  a  hood  gentle  and  close 
That  spans  her  little  head  like  her  husband's  hand. 

11 


GUNNAR,   entering  by  the  same  door 

I  like  you  when  you  bear  your  head  so  high ; 

Lift  but  your  heart  as  high,  you  could  get  crowned 

And  rule  a  kingdom  of  impossible  things. 

You  would  have  moon  and  sun  to  shine  together, 

Snow-flakes  to  knit  for  apples  on  bare  boughs. 

Yea  love  to  thrive  upon  the  terms  of  hate. 

If  I  had  fared  abroad  I  should  have  found 

In  many  countries  many  marvels  for  you  — 

Though  not  more  comeliness  in  peopled  Romeborg 

And  not  more  haughtiness  in  Mickligarth 

Nor  craftiness  in  all  the  isles  of  the  world, 

And  only  golden  coifs  in  Athcliath  : 

Yet  you  were  ardent  that  I  should  not  sail. 

And  when  I  could  not  sail  you  laughed  out  loud 

And  kissed  me  home 

HALLGERD,   who  has  been  biting  her  nails 

And  then  .    .    .   and  doubtless   .   .   .    and 
strangely  .  .  . 
And  not  more  thriftiness  in  Bergthorsknoll 
Where  Njal  saves  old  soft  sackcloth  for  his  wife. 
O,  I  must  sit  with  peasants  and  aged  women. 
And  keep  my  head  wrapped  modestly  and  seemly ; 

She  turns  to  RANNVEIG. 
I  must  be  humble  —  as  one  who  lives  on  others. 


12 


She  snatches  off  her  wimple,  slipping  her  gold 
circlet  as  she  does  so,  and  loosens  her  hair. 
Unless  I  may  be  hooded  delicately 
And  use  the  adornment  noble  women  use 
1  '11  mock  you  with  my  flown  young  widowhood, 
Letting  my  hair  go  loose  past  either  cheek 
In  two  bright  clouds  and  drop  beyond  my  bosom, 
Turning  the  waving  ends  under  my  girdle 
As  young  glad  widows  do,  and  as  I  did 
Ere  ever  you  saw  me  —  ay,  and  when  you  found  me 
And  met  me  as  a  king  meets  a  queen 
In  the  undying  light  of  a  summer  night 
With  burning  robes  and  glances  —  stirring  the 
heart  with  scarlet. 

She  tucks  the  long  ends  of  her  hair  under  her 
girdle. 

RANNVEIG 

You  have  cast  the  head-ring  of  the  nobly  nurtured, 

Being  eager  for  a  bold  uncovered  head. 

You  are  conversant  with  a  widow's  fancies  .... 

Ay,  you  are  ready  with  your  widowhood  : 

Two  men  have  had  you,  chilled  their  bosoms 

with  you, 
And  trusted  that  they  held  a  precious  thing  — 
Yet  your  mean  passionate  wastefulness  poured  out 
Their  lives  for  joy  of  seeing  something  done  with. 
Cannot  you  wait  this  time  ?     'T  will  not  be  long. 

13 


HALLGERD 

I  am  a  hazardous  desirable  thing, 
A  warm  unsounded  peril,  a  flashing  mischief, 
A  divine  malice,  a  disquieting  voice  : 
Thus  I  was  shapen,  and  it  is  my  pride 
To  nourish  all  the  fires  that  mingled  me. 
I  am  not  long  moved,  I  do  not  mar  my  face, 
Though  men  have  sunk  in  me  as  in  a  quicksand. 
Well,  death  is  terrible.     Was  I  not  worth  it .'' 
Does  not  the  light  change  on  me  as  I  breathe.? 
Could  I  not  take  the  hearts  of  generations. 
Walking  among  their  dreams.?     O,  I  have  might, 
Although  it  drives  me  too  and  is  not  my  own 

deed 

And  Gunnar  is  great,  or  he  had  died  long  since. 
It  is  my  joy  that  Gunnar  stays  with  me  : 
Indeed  the  offence  is  theirs  who  hunted  him, 
His  banishment  is  not  just;  his  wrongs  increase, 
His  honour  and  his  following  shall  increase 
If  he  is  steadfast  for  his  blamelessness. 

RANNVEIG 

/  Law  is  not  justice,  but  the  sacrifice 

L  Of  singular  virtues  to  the  dull  world's  ease  of 

I  mind; 

'  It  measures  men  by  the  most  vicious  men; 

I  It  is  a  bargaining  with  vanities, 

14 


Lest  too  much  right  should   make   men   hate 

each  other 
And  hasten  the  last  battle  of  all  the  nations. 
Gunnar  should  have  kept  the  atonement  set, 
For  then  those  men  would  turn  to  other  quarrels. 

GUNNAR 

I  know  not  why  it  is  I  must  be  fighting, 
For  ever  fighting,  when  the  slaying  of  men 
Is  a  more  weary  and  aimless  thing  to  me 

Than   most   men  think   it and   most 

women  too. 
There  is  a  woman  here  who  grieves  she  loves  me, 
And  she  too  must  be  fighting  me  for  ever 

With  her  dim  ravenous  unsated  mind 

Ay,  Hallgerd,  there  's  that  in  her  which  desires 

Men  to  fight  on  for  ever  because  she  lives : 

When  she  took  form  she  did  it  like  a  hunger 

To  nibble  earth's  lip  away  until  the  sea 

Poured  down  the  darkness.     Why  then  should  I  sail 

Upon  a  voyage  that  can  end  but  here  ? 

She  means  that  I  shall  fight  until  I  die : 

Why  must  she  be  put  off  by  whittled  years. 

When  none  can  die  until  his  time  has  come? 

He  turns  to  the  hound  by  the  fire. 

Samm,  drowsy  friend,  dost  scent  a  prey  in  dreams  ? 
Shake  off  thy  shag  of  sleep  and  get  to  thy  watch  : 

15    ' 


'T  is  time  to  be  our  eyes  till  the  next  light. 
Out,  out  to  the  yard,  good  Samm. 

He  goes  to  the  left,  followed  by  the  hound.  In 
the  meantime  HALLGERD  has  seated  her- 
self in  the  high-seat  near  the  sewing  women, 
turning  herself  away  and  tugging  at  a 
strand  of  her  hair,  the  end  of  which  she 
bites. 

RANNVEIG,  intercepting  him 

Nay,  let  me  take  him. 
It  is  not  safe  —  there  may  be  men  who  hide.  .  . 
Hallgerd,  look  up ;  call  Gunnar  to  you  there  : 

HALLGERD  is  motionless. 

Lad,  she  beckons.     I  say  you  shall  not  come. 

GUNNAR,  laughing 

Fierce  woman,  teach  me  to  be  brave  in  age, 
And  let  us  see  if  it  is  safe  for  you. 

He  leads  RANNVEIG  out,  his  hand  on  her 
shoulder;  the  hound  goes  with  them. 

STEINVOR 

Mistress,  my  heart  is  big  with  mutinies 
For    your   proud    sake :    does    not  your   heart 
mount  up? 

16 


He  is  an  outlaw  now  and  could  not  hold  you 
If  you  should  choose  to  leave  him.     Is  it  not  law? 
Is  it  not  law  that  you  could  loose  this  marriage  — 
Nay,  that  he  loosed  it  shamefully  years  ago 
By  a  hard  blow  that  bruised  your  innocent  cheek, 
Dishonouring  you  to  lesser  women  and  chiefs? 
See,  it  burns  up  again  at  the  stroke  of  thought. 
Come,  leave  him,  mistress  ;  we  will  go  with  you. 
There  is  no  woman  in  the  country  now 
Whose  name  can  kindle  men  as  yours  can  do  — 
Ay,  many  would  pile  for  you  the  silks  he  grudges; 
And  if  you  did  withdraw  your  potent  presence 
Fire  would  not  spare  this  house  so  reverently. 

HALLGERD 

Am  I  a  wandering  flame  that  sears  and  passes  ? 
We  must  bide  here,  good  Steinvor,  and  be  quiet. 
Without  a  man  a  woman  cannot  rule, 
Nor  kill  without  a  knife  ;  and  where  's  the  man 
That  I  shall  put  before  this  goodly  Gunnar? 
I  will  not  be  made  less  by  a  less  man. 
There  is  no  man  so  great  as  my  man  Gunnar : 
I  have  set  men  at  him  to  show  forth  his  might; 
I  have  planned  thefts  and  breakings  of  his  word 
When  my  pent  heart  grew  sore  with  fermentation 
Of  malice  too  long  undone,  yet  could  not  stir  him. 
O,  I  will  make  a  battle  of  the  Thing, 
Where  men  vow  holy  peace,  to  magnify  him. 

17 


Is  it  not  rare  to  sit  and  wait  o'  nights, 
Knowing  that  murderousness  may  even  now 
Be  coming  down  outside  like  second  darkness 
Because  my  man  is  greater  ? 

STEINVOR,  shudderingly 

Is  it  not  rare. 

HALLGERD 

That  blow  upon  the  face 

So  long  ago  is  best  not  spoken  of. 

I  drave  a  thrall  to  steal  and  burn  at  Otkell's 

Who  would  not  sell  to  us  in  famine  time 

But  denied  Gunnar  as  if  he  were  suppliant : 

Then  at  our  feast  when  men  rode  from  the 

Thing 
I  spread  the  stolen  food  and  Gunnar  knew. 
He  smote  me  upon  the  face    .    .    .    indeed  he 

smote  me  ... 
O,  Gunnar  smote  me  and  had  shame  of  me 
And  said  he  'd  not  partake  with  any  thief; 
Although  I  stole  to  injure  his  despiser  .... 
But  if  he  had  abandoned  me  as  well 
'T  is  I  who  should  have  been  unmated  now ; 
For  many  men  would  soon  have  judged  me  thief 
And  shut  me  from  this  land  until  I  died  — 
And  then  I  should  have  lost  him.  .  .  .  Yet  he 

smote  me 


18 


ASTRID 

He  kept  you  his  —  yea,  and  maybe  saved  you 
From  a  debasement  that  could  madden  or  kill, 
For  women  thieves  ere  now  have  felt  a  knife 
Severing  ear  or  nose.     And  yet  the  feud 
You  sowed  with  Otkell's  house  shall  murder 

Gunnar. 
Otkell  was  slain  :  then  Gunnar's  enviers. 
Who  could  not  crush  him  under  his  own  horse 
At  the  big  horse-fight,  stirred  up  Otkell's  son 
To  avenge  his  father ;  for  should  he  be  slain 
Two    in    one   stock    would    prove   old   Njal's 

foretelling, 
And  Gunnar's  place  be  emptied  either  way 
For  those  high  helpless  men  who  cannot  fill  it. 
O,  mistress,  you  have  hurt  us  all  in  this  : 
You    have    cut   off   your   strength,    you    have 

maimed  yourself, 
You  are  losing  power  and  worship  and  men's  trust. 
When  Gunnar  dies  no  other  man  dare  take  you. 

HALLGERD 

You  gather  poison  in  your  mouth  for  me. 
A  high-born  woman  may  handle  what  she  fancies 
Without  being  ear-pruned  like  a  pilfering  beggar. 
Look  to  your  ears  if  you  touch  ought  of  mine  : 
Ay,  you  shall  join  the  mumping  sisterhood 
And  tramp  and  learn  your  difference  from  me. 

19 


She  turns  from  ASTRID. 

Steinvor,  I  have  remembered  the  great  veil, 
The  woven  cloud,  the  tissue  of  gold  and  garlands. 
That  Gunnar  took  from  some  outlandish  ship 
And  thinks  was  made  in  Greekland  or  in  Hind  : 
Fetch  it  from  the  ambry  in  the  bower. 

Steinvor  goes  out  by  the  dais  door. 

ASTRID 

Mistress,  indeed  you  are  a  cherished  woman. 
That  veil  is  worth  a  lifetime's  weight  of  coifs : 
I  have  heard  a  queen  offered  her  daughter  for  it. 
But  Gunnar  said  it  should  come  home  and  wait — 
And  then  gave  it  to  you.     The  half  of  Iceland 
Tells  fabulous  legends  of  a  fabulous  thing, 
Yet  never  saw  it :  I  know  they  never  saw  it, 
For  ere  it  reached  the  ambry  I  came  on  it 
Tumbled  in  the  loft  with  ragged  kirtles. 

HALLGERD 

What,  are  you  there  again  ?    Let  Gunnar  alone. 

Steinvor  enters  with  the  veil  folded. 
HALLGERD  takes  it  with  one  hand  and 
shakes  it  into  a  heap. 

This  is  the  cloth.     He  brought  it  out  at  night. 
In  the  first  hour  that  we  were  left  together, 

20 


And  begged  of  me  to  wear  it  at  high  feasts 
And  more  outshine  all  women  of  my  time  : 
He  shaped  it  to  my  head  with  my  gold  circlet, 
Saying  my  hair  smouldered  like  Rhine-lire  through, 
He  let  it  fall  about  my  neck,  and  fall 
About  my  shoulders,  mingle  with  my  skirts, 
And  billow  in  the  draught  along  the  floor. 

She  rises  and  holds  the  veil  behind  her  head. 

I  know  I  dazzled  as  if  I  entered  in 
And  walked  upon  a  windy  sunset  and  drank  it. 
Yet  must  I  stammer  with  such  strange  uncouthness 
And  tear  it  from  me,  tangling  my  arms  in  it. 
Why  should  I  so  befool  myself  and  seem 
A  laughable  bundle  in  each  woman's  eyes. 
Wearing  such  things  as  no  one  ever  wore, 
Useless  ....  no  head-cloth  ....  too  unlike 

my  fellows. 
Yet  he  turns  miser  for  a  tiny  coif. 
It  would  cut  into  many  golden  coifs 
And  dim  some  women  in  their  Irish  clouts  — 
But  no ;  I  '11  shape  and  stitch  it  into  shifts, 
Smirch  it  like  linen,  patch  it  with  rags,  to  watch 
His  silent  anger  when  he  sees  my  answer. 
Give  me  thy  shears,  girl  Oddny. 

ODDNY 

You  '11  not  part  it .? 

21 


HALLGERD 
I  '11  shorten  it. 

ODDNY 

I  have  no  shears  with  me. 


HALLGERD 

No  matter ;  I  can  start  it  with  my  teeth 
And  tear  it  down  the  folds.    So.    So.    So.    So. 
Here  's  a  fine  shift  for  summer :  and  another. 
I  '11  find  my  shears  and  chop  out  waists  and 

neck-holes. 
Ay,  Gunnar,  Gunnar! 

She  throws  the  tissue  on  the  ground,  and  goes 
out  by  the  dais  door. 

ODDNY,  lifting  one  of  the  pieces 

O  me  !    A  wonder  has  vanished. 

STEINVOR 

What  is  a  wonder  less?     She  has  done  finely, 
Setting    her    worth    above    dead    marvels    and 
shows.  .  .  . 

The  deep  menacing  baying  of  the  hound  is 
heard  near  at  hand.  A  woman  s  cry  fol- 
lows it. 


22 


They  come,  they  come  !     Let  us  flee  by  the 
bower ! 

Starting  up,  she  stumbles  in  the  tissue  and 
sinks  upon  it.      The  others  rise. 

You  are  leaving  me — will  you  not  wait  for  me  — 
Take,  take  me  with  you  .... 

Mingled  cries  of  women  are  heard. 

GUNNAR,  outside 

Samm,  it  is  well :  be  still. 
Women,  be  quiet;  loose  me  ;  get  from  my  feet. 
Or  I  will  have  the  hound  to  wipe  me  clear.  .  .  . 

STEINVOR,  recovering  herself 
Women  are  sent  to  spy. 

The  sound  of  a  door  being  opened  is  heard. 
GUNNAR  enters  from  the  left,  followed  by 
three  beggar-women,  BlARTEY,  JOFRID, 
and  GUDFINN.  They  hobble  and  limp, 
and  are  swathed  in  shapeless  nameless  rags 
which  trail  about  their  feet;  BlARTEY'S 
left  sleeve  is  torn  completely  away,  leaving 
her  arm  bare  and  mud-smeared ;  the  others' 
skirts  are  torn,  and  JOFRID'S  gown  at  the 
neck ;  GUDFINN  wears  a  felt  hood  but- 
toned under  her  chin,  the  others'  faces  are 

23 


almost  hid  in  falling  tangles  of  grey  hair. 
Their  faces  are  shrivelled  and  weather- 
beaten,  and  BlARTEY'S  mouth  is  distorted 
by  two  front  teeth  that  project  like  tusks. 

GUNNAR 

Get  in  to  the  light. 
Yea,  has  he  mouthed  ye  ?  ,  .  .  What  men  send  ye  here  ? 
Who  are  ye  ?    Whence  come  ye  ?    What  do  ye  seek  ? 
I  think  no  mother  ever  suckled  you  : 
You  must  have  dragged  your  roots  up  in  waste  places 
One  foot  at  once,  or  heaved  a  shoulder  up  — 

BIARTEY,  interrupting  him 

Out  of  the  bosoms  of  cairns  and  standing  stones. 
I  am  Biartey :  she  is  Jofrid  :  she  is  Gudfinn  : 
We  are  lone  women  known  to  no  man  now. 
We  are  not  sent :  we  come. 

GUNNAR 

Well,  you  come. 
You  appear  by  night,  rising  under  my  eyes 
Like  marshy  breath  or  shadows  on  the  wall; 
Yet  the  hound  scented  you  like  any  evil 
That  feels  upon  the  night  for  a  way  out. 
And  do  you,  then,  indeed  wend  alone  ? 
Came  you  from  the  West  or  the  sky-covering  North, 
Yet  saw  no  thin  steel  moving  in  the  dark  ? 

24 


BIARTEY 

Not  West,  not  North :  we  slept  upon  the  East, 
Arising  in  the  East  where  no  men  dwell. 
We  have  abided  in  the  mountain  places, 
Chanted    our   woes   among    the    black   rocks 
crouching ; 

GUDFINN  joins  her  in  a  sing-song  utterance. 

From  the  East,  from  the  East  we  drove  and  the 

wind  waved  us, 
Over  the  heaths,  over  the  barren  ashes. 
We  are  old,  our  eyes  are  old,  and  the  light 

hurts  us, 
We  have  skins  on  our  eyes  that  part  alone  to 

the  star-light. 
We  stumble  about  the  night,  the  rocks  tremble 
Beneath  our  trembling  feet;  black  sky  thickens, 
Breaks  into  clots,  and  lets  the  moon  upon  us. 

JOFRID  joins  her  voice  to  the  voices  of  the 
other  two. 

Far  from  the  men  who  fear  us,  men  who  stone  us. 
Hiding,  hiding,  flying  whene'er  they  slumber. 
High  on  the  crags  we  pause,  over  the  moon-gulfs; 
Black  clouds  fall  and  leave  us  up  in  the  moon-depths 
Where  wind  flaps  our  hair  and  cloaks  like  fin-webs, 
Ay  and  our  sleeves  that  toss  with  our  arms  and  the 
cadence 

25 


Of  quavering  crying  among  the  threatening  echoes. 
Then  we  spread  our  cloaks  and  leap  down  the  rock- 
stairs, 
Sweeping  the  heaths  with  our  skirts,  greying  the  dew- 
bloom, 
Until  we  feel  a  pool  on  the  wide  dew  stretches 
Stilled  by  the  moon  or  ruffling  like  breast  feathers. 
And,  with  grey  sleeves  cheating  the  sleepy  herons, 
Squat  among  them,  pillow  us  there  and  sleep. 
But  in  the  harder  wastes  we  stand  upright. 
Like  splintered  rain-worn  boulders  set  to  the  wind 
In  old  confederacy,  and  rest  and  sleep. 

HALLGERD'S  women  are  huddled  together 
and  clasping  each  other. 

ODDNY 

What  can  these  women  be  who  sleep  like  horses, 
Standing  up  in  the  darkness  ....  What  will 
they  do  ...  . 

GUNNAR 

Ye  wail  like  ravens  and  have  no  human  thoughts. 
What  do  ye  seek.?     What  will  ye  here  with  \xs\ 

BIARTEY,  as  all  three  cower  suddenly 

Succour  upon  this  terrible  journeying. 

We  have  a  message  for  a  man  in  the  West, 

26 


Sent  by  an  old  man  sitting  in  the  East. 

We  are  spent,  our  feet  are  moving  wounds,  our 

bodies 
Dream  of  themselves  and  seem  to  trail  behind  us 
Because  we  went  unfed  down  in  the  mountains. 
Feed  us  and  shelter  us  beneath  your  roof, 
And  put  us  over  the  Markfleet,over  the  channels. 
We  are  weak  old  women :  we  arc  beseeching  you. 

GUNNAR 

You  may  bide  here  this  night,  but  on  the  morrow 
You  shall  go  over,  for  tramping  shameless  women 
Carry  too  many  tales  from  stead  to  stead  — 
And  sometimes  heavier  gear  than  breath  and  lies. 
These  women  will  tell  the  mistress  all  I  grant  you; 
Get  to  the  fire  until  she  shall  return. 

BIARTEY 

Thou  art  a  merciful  man  and  we  shall  thank  thee. 

GUNNAR  goes  out  again  to  the  left. 
The    old   women    approach    the    young    ones 
gradually. 

Little  ones,  do  not  doubt  us.   Could  we  hurt  you  ? 
Because  we  are  ugly  must  we  be  bewitched  \ 

STEINVOR 

Nay,  but  bewitch  us. 

27 


BIARTEY 

Not  in  a  litten  house : 
Not  ere  the  hour  when  night  turns  on  itself 
And  shakes  the  silence  :  not  while  ye  wake  together. 
Sweet  voice,  tell  us,  was  that  verily  Gunnar? 

STEINVOR 

Arrh  —  do  not  touch  me,  unclean  flyer-by-night : 
Have  ye  birds'  feet  to  match  such  bat-webbed  fingers? 

BIARTEY 

I  am  only  a  cowed  curst  woman  who  walks 

with  death ; 
I  will  crouch  here.     Tell  us,  was  it  Gunnar? 

ODDNY 

Yea,  Gunnar  surely.     Is  he  not  big  enough 
To  fit  the  songs  about  him  ? 

BIARTEY 

He  is  a  man. 
Why  will  his  manhood  urge  him  to  be  dead  ? 
We  walk  about  the  whole  old  land  at  night, 
We  enter  many  dales  and  many  halls  : 
And  everywhere  is  talk  of  Gunnar's  greatness, 
His  slayings  and  his  fate  outside  the  law. 
The  last  ship  has  not  gone :  why  will  he  tarry  ? 

28 


ODDNY 

He  chose  a  ship,  but  men  who  rode  with  him 
Say  that  his  horse  threw  him  upon  the  shore, 
His  face  toward  the  Lithe  and  his  own  fields; 
As  he  arose  he  trembled  at  what  he  gazed  on 
(Although  those  men  saw  nothing  pass  or  meet  them) 
And  said  ....  What  said  he,  girls  ? 

ASTRID 

"  Fair  is  the  Lithe  : 
So  fair  I  never  thought  it  was  so  fair. 
Its  corn  is  white,  its  meadows  green  after  mowing. 
I  will  ride  home  again  and  never  leave  it." 

ODDNY 

'T  is  an  unlikely  tale  :  he  never  said  it. 
No  one  could  mind  such  things  in  such  an  hour. 
Plainly  he  saw  his  fetch  come  down  the  sands, 
And  knew  he  need  not  seek  another  country 
And  take  that  with  him  to  walk  upon  the  deck 
In  night  and  storm. 

GUDFINN 

He,  he,  he  !    No  man  speaks  thus. 

JOFRID 

No  man,  no  man :  he  must  be  doomed  somewhere. 


29 


BIARTEY 

Doomed  and  fey,  my  sisters.  .  .  .  We  are  too  old, 
Yet  I  'd  not  marvel  if  we  outlasted  him. 
Sisters,  that  is  a  fair  fierce  girl  who  spins  .... 
My  fair  fierce  girl,  you  could  fight  —  but  can 

you  ride  ? 
Would  you  not  shout  to  be  riding  in  a  storm  ? 
Ah  .  .  .  h,  girls  learnt  riding  well  when  I  was 

a  girl. 
And    foam    rides    on    the    breakers   as    I   was 

taught.   .   .  . 
My  fair  fierce  girl,  tell  me  your  noble  name. 

ODDNY 

My  name  is  Oddny. 

BIARTEY 

Oddny,  when  you  are  old 

Would  you  not  be  proud  to  be  no  man's  purse- 
string. 

But  wild  and  wandering  and  friends  with  the 
earth  ? 

Wander  with  us  and  learn  to  be  old  yet  living. 

We  'd  win  fine  food  with  you  to  beg  for  us. 

STEINVOR 

Despised,  cast  out,  unclean,  and   loose  men's 
night-bird. 

30 


ODDNY 

When  I  am  old  I  shall  be  some  man's  friend, 
And  hold  him  when  the  darkness  comes  .... 

BIARTEY 

And  mumble  by  the  fire  and  blink  .... 
Good  Oddny,  let  me  spin  for  you  awhile, 
That  Gunnar's  house  may  profit  by  his  guesting  : 
Come,  trust  me  with  your  distaff  .... 

ODDNY 

Are  there  spells 
Wrought  on  a  distaff? 

'    STEINVOR 

Only  by  the  Norns, 
And  they  '11  not  sit  with  human  folk  to-night. 

ODDNY 

Then  you  may  spin  all  night  for  what  I  care ; 
But  let  the  yarn  run  clean  from  knots  and  snarls, 
Or  I  shall  have  the  blame  when  you  are  gone. 

BIARTEY,  taking  the  distaf 

Trust  well  the  aged  knowledge  of  my  hands; 
Thin  and  thin  do  I  spin,  and  the  thread  draws 
finer. 


31 


She  sings  as  she  spins. 

They  go  by  three, 
And  the  moon  shivers ; 
The  tired  waves  flee, 
The  hidden  rivers 
Also  flee. 

I  take  three  strands ; 
There  is  one  for  her, 
One  for  my  hands, 
And  one  to  stir 
For  another's  hands. 

I  twine  them  thinner, 
The  dead  wool  doubts ; 
The  outer  is  inner, 
The  core  slips  out  .... 

HALLGERD  re-enters  by  the  dais  door,  hold- 
ing a  pair  of  shears. 

HALLGERD 

What  are  these    women,   Oddny-^"     Who    let 
them  in? 

BIARTEY,  who  spins  through  all  that  follows 

Lady,  the  man  of  fame  who  is  your  man 
Gave  us  his  peace  to-night,  and  that  of  his  house. 

32 


We  are  blown  beggars  tramping  about  the  land, 
Denied  a  home  for  our  evil  and  vagrant  hearts  ; 
We  sought  this  shelter  when    the    first   dew 

soaked  us, 
And  should  have  perished  by  the  giant  hound 
But  Gunnar  fought  it  with  his  eyes  and  saved  us. 
That  is  a  strange  hound,  with  a  man's  mind  in  it. 

HALLGERD,  seating  herself  in  the  high-seat 

It  is  an  Irish  hound,  from  that  strange  soil 
Where  men  by  day  walk  with  unearthly  eyes 
And  cross  the  veils  of  the  air,  and  are  not  men 
But  fierce  abstractions  eating  their  own  hearts 
Impatiently  and  seeing  too  much  to  be  joyful.  .  .  . 
If  Gunnar  welcomed  ye,  ye  may  remain. 

BIARTEY 

She  is  a  fair  free  lady,  is  she  not? 

But  that  was  to  be  looked  for  in  a  high  one 

Who  counts  among  her  fathers  the  bright  Sigurd, 

The  bane  of  Fafnir  the  Worm,  the  end  of  the  god-kings 

Among  her  mothers  Brynhild,  the  lass  of  Odin, 

The  maddener  of  swords,  the  night-clouds*  rider. 

She  has  kept  sweet  that  father's  lore  of  bird-speech. 

She  wears  that  mother's  power  to  cheat  a  god. 

Sisters,  she  does  well  to  be  proud  .... 

33 


JOFRID  AND  GUDFINN 

Ay,  well  .... 

HALLGERD,     shaping  the    tissue  with    her 
shears 

I  need  no  witch  to  tell  I  am  of  rare  seed, 

Nor  measure  my  pride  nor  praise  it.    Do  I  not  know } 

Old  women,  ye  are  welcomed  :  sit  with  us, 

And  while  we  stitch  tell  us  what  gossip  runs  — 

But  if  strife  might  be  warmed  by  spreading  it. 

BIARTEY 

Lady,  we  are  hungered ;  we  were  lost 
All  night  among  the  mountains  of  the  East ; 
Clouds  of  the  cliffs  come  down  my  eyes  again.  .  .  . 
I  pray  you  let  some  thrall  bring  us  to  food. 

HALLGERD 

Ye  get  nought  here.     The  supper  is  long  over; 

The  women  shall  not  let  ye  know  the  food-house. 

Or  ye  '11  be  thieving  in  the  night.     Ye  are  idle. 

Ye  suck  a  man's  house  bare  and  seek  another. 

'T  is  bed-time  ;  get  to  sleep  —  that  stills  much  hunger. 

BIARTEY 

Now  it  is  easy  to  be  seeing  what  spoils  you. 
You  were  not  grasping  or  ought  but  over  warm 

34 


WhenSigmund,  Gunnar's  kinsman,  guested  here. 
You  followed  him,  you  were  too  kind  with  him. 
You  lavished  Gunnar's  treasure  and  gear  on  him 
To  draw  him  on,  and  did  not  call  that  thieving. 
Ay,  Sigmund  took  your  feuds  on  him  and  died 
As  Gunnar  shall.   Men  have  much  harm  by  you. 

HALLGERD 

Now  have  I  gashed  the  golden  cloth  awry : 
'Tis  ended  —  a  ruin  of  clouts  —  the  worth  of 

the  gift  — 
Bridal  dish-clouts  —  nay,  a  bundle  of  flame. 
I  '11  burn  it  to  a  breath  of  its  old  queen's  ashes: 
Fire,  O  fire,  drink  up  ...  . 

She  throws  the  shreds  of  the  veil  on  the  glow- 
ing embers:  they  waft  to  ashes  with  a  brief 
high  flare.      She  goes  to  JOFRID. 

There 's  one  of  you 
That  holds  her  head  in  a  bird's  sideways  fashion : 
I  know  that  reach  o'  the  chin.  .  .  .  What's 
under  thy  hair.?  — 

She  fixes  JOFRID  with  her  knee,  and  lifts 
her  hair. 

Pfui,'t  is  not  hair,  but  sopped  and  rotting  moss  — 
A  thief,   a  thief  indeed  ....  And    twice    a 
thief  .... 


35 


She  has  no  ears.     Keep  thy  hooked  fingers  still 
While  thou  art  here,  for  if  I  miss  a  mouthful 
Thou  shalt  miss  all  thy  nose.     Get  up,  get  up; 
I  '11  lodge  ye  with  the  mares  .... 

JOFRID,  starting  up 

Three  men,  three  men. 
Three  men  have  wived  you,  and  for  all  you  gave  them 
Paid  with  three  blows  upon  a  cheek  once  kissed  — 
To  every  man  a  blow  —  and  the  last  blow 
All  the  land  knows  was  won  by  thieving  food. . . . 
Yea,  Gunnar  is  ended  by  the  theft  and  the  thief. 
Is  it  not  told  that  when  you  first  grew  tall, 
A  false  rare  girl,  Hrut  your  own  kinsman  said 
"  I  know  not  whence  thief's  eyes  entered  our 

blood." 
You  have  more  ears,  yet  are  you  not  my  sister,? 
Our  evil  vagrant  heart  is  deeper  in  you. 

HALLGERD,  snatching  the  distaff  from 
BlARTEY 

Out  and  be  gone,  be  gone.  Lie  with  the  mountains. 
Smother  among  the  thunder ;  stale  dew  mould  you. 
Outstrip  the  hound,  or  he  shall  so  embrace  you  .... 

BlARTEY 

Now  is  all  done  ....  all   done  ....  and 
all  your  deed  ! 

36 


She  broke  the  thread,  and  it  shall  not  join  again. 
•Spindle,  spindle,  the  coiling  weft  shall  dwindle  ; 
Leap  on  the  fire  and  burn,  for  all  is  done  .... 

She  casts  the  spindle  upon  the  fire,  and  stretches 
her  hands  toward  it. 

HALLGERD,  attacking  them  with  the  distaff 
Into  the  night.  .  .  .  Dissolve  .... 

BIARTEY,  as  the  three  rush  toward  the  door 

Sisters,  away : 
Leave  the  woman  to  her  smouldering  beauty, 
Leave  the  fire  that 's  kinder  than  the  woman. 
Leave  the  roof-tree  ere  it  falls.     It  falls. 

GUDFINN  joins  her.  Each  time  HALL- 
GERD flags  they  turn  as  they  chant,  and 
point  at  her. 

We  shall  cry  no  more  in  the  high  rock-places. 
We  are  gone  from  the  night,  the  winds  and  the 

clouds  are  empty : 
Soon  the  man  in  the  West  shall  receive  our  message. 

JOFRID'S  voice  joins  the  other  voices. 

Men  reject  us,  yet  their  house  is  unstable.  .  .  . 
The  slayers'  hands  are  warm  —  the  sound  of 

their  riding 
Reached  us  down  the  ages,  ever  approaching. 

37 


HALLGERD,  at  the  same  time,  her  voice 
high  over  theirs 

Pack,  ye  rag-heaps  —  or  I  '11  unravel  you. 

THE  THREE,  continuously 

House  that  spurns  us,  woe  shall  come  upon  you : 
Death  shall  hollow  you.   Now  we  curse  the  woman  — 
May  all  the  woes  smite  her  till  she  can  feel  them. 
Shall  we  not  roost  in  her  bower  yet  ?     Woe  !    Woe  ! 

The  distaff  breaks,  and  HALLGERD  drives 
them  out  with  her  hands.  Their  voices  con- 
tinue for  a  moment  outside,  dying  away. 

Call  to  the  owl-friends  ....  Woe  !   Woe  !   Woe  ! 

ASTRID 

Whence  came  these  mounds  of  dread  to  haunt 

the  night? 
It  doubles  this  disquiet  to  have  them  near  us. 

ODDNY 

They  must  be  witches  —  and  it  was  my  distaflP — 
Will  fire  eat  through  me  ...  . 

STEINVOR 

Or  the  Norns  themselves. 
38 


HALLGERD 

Or  bad  old  women  used  to  govern  by  fear. 
To  bed,  to  bed  —  we  are  all  up  too  late. 

STEIN VOR,   as  she   turns  with   ASTRID 
and  OdDNY  to  the  dais 

If  beds  are  made  for  sleep  we  might  sit  long. 

They  go  out  by  the  dais  door. 

GUNNAR,  as  he  enters  hastily  from  the  left 

Where  are  those  women  ?    There  's  some  secret 

in  them  : 
I  have  heard  such  others  crying  down  to  them. 

HALLGERD 

They  turned  foul-mouthed,  they  beckoned  evil 

toward  us  — 
I  drove  them  forth  a  breath  ago. 

GUNNAR 

Forth?     Whence? 

HALLGERD 

By  the  great  door :  they  cried  about  the  night. 
RANNVEIG  follows  GUNN AR  in. 

39 


GUNNAR 

Nay,  but  I  entered  there  and  passed  them  not. 
Mother,  where  are  the  women? 

RANNVEIG 

I  saw  none  come. 
GUNNAR 
They  have  not  come,  they  have  gone. 

RANNVEIG 

I  crossed  the  yard. 
Hearing:  a  noise,  but  a  big  bird  dropped  past, 
Beating  my  eyes ;  and  then  the  yard  was  clear. 

The  deep  baying  of  the  hound  is  heard  again. 

GUNNAR 

They  must  be  spies  :  yonder  is  news  of  them. 
The  wise  hound  knew  them,  and  knew  them  again. 

The  baying  is  succeeded  by  one  wild  howl 

Nay,  nay  ! 
Men  treat  thee  sorely,  Samm  my  fosterling : 
Even  by  death  thou  warnest  —  but  it  is  meant 
That  our  two  deaths  will  not  be  far  apart. 

RANNVEIG 

Think  you  that  men  are  yonder .? 

40 


GUNNAR 

Men  are  yonder. 

RANNVEIG 

My  son,  my  son,  get  on  the  rattling  war-woof, 
The  old  grey  shift  of  Odin,  the  hide  of  steel. 
Handle  the  snake  with  edges,  the  fang  of  the  rings. 

GUNNAR,  going  to  the  weapons  by  the  high-seat 

There  are  not  enough  moments  to  get  under 
That  heavy  fleece  :  an  iron  hat  must  serve  .... 

HALLGERD 

O  brave  !  O  brave  !  —  he  Ml  dare  them  with  no 
shield. 

GUNNAR,  lifting  down  the  great  bill 

Let  me  but  reach  this  haft,  I  shall  get  hold 
Of  steel  enough  to  fence  me  all  about. 

He  shakes  the  bill  above  his   head:    a  deep 

resonant  humming  follows. 
The  dais  door  is  thrown  open^  and  ODDNY, 

ASTRID,  and  STEINVOR  stream  through 

in  their  night-clothes. 

STEINVOR 
The  bill ! 


41 


ODDNY 

The  bill  is  singing  ! 

ASTRID 

The  bill  sings ! 

GUNNAR,  shaking  the  bill  again 

Ay,  brain-biter,  waken.  .  .  .  Awake  and  whisper 
Out  of  the  throat  of  dread  thy  one  brief  burden. 
Blind  art  thou,  and  thy  kiss  will  do  no  choosing  : 
Worn  art  thou  to  a  grey  hair's  edge,  a  nothing 
That  slips  through  all  it  finds,  seeking  more  nothing. 
There  is  a  time,  brain-biter,  a  time  that  comes 
When  there  shall  be  much  quietness  for  thee  : 
Men  will  be  still  about  thee.     I  shall  know. 
It  is  not  yet :  the  wind  shall  hiss  at  thee  first. 
Ahui !     Leap  up,  brain-biter;  sing  again. 
Sing !  Sing  thy  verse  of  anger  and  feel  my  hands. 

RANNVEIG 

Stand  thou,  my  Gunnar,  in  the  porch  to  meet  them. 
And  the  great  door  shall  keep  thy  back  for  thee. 

GUNNAR 

I    had   a  brother   there.     Brother,   where    are 
you  .... 

42 


HALLGERD 

Nay,  nay.     Get  thou,  my  Gunnar,  to  the  loft. 
Stand  at  the  casement,  watch  them  how  they  come. 
Arrows  maybe  could  drop  on  them  from  there. 

RANNVEIG 

'T  is  good  :  the  woman's  cunning  for  once  is  faithful. 

GUNNAR,  turning  again- to  the  weapons 

'T  is  good,  for  now  I  hear  a  foot  that  stumbles 

Along  the  stable-roof  against  the  hall. 

My  bow — where  is  my  bow?     Here  with  its 

arrows.  .  .  . 
Go  in  again,  you  women  on  the  dais, 
And  listen  at  the  casement  of  the  bower 
For  men  who  cross  the  yard,  and  for  their  words. 

ASTRID 
O,  Gunnar,  we  shall  serve  you. 

ASTRID,  ODDNY,  and  STEINVOR  go  out  by 
the  dais  door. 

RANNVEIG 

Hallgerd,  come ; 
We  must  shut  fast  the  door,  bar  the  great  door. 
Or  they  '11  be  in  on  us  and  murder  him. 

43 


HALLGERD 

Not  I :  I  'd  rather  set  the  door  wide  open 
And  watch  my  Gunnar  kindling  at  the  peril, 
Keeping  them  back  —  shaming  men  for  ever 
Who  could  not  enter  at  a  gaping  door. 

RANNVEIG 

Bar  the  great  door,  I  say,  or  I  will  bar  it  — 
Door  of  the  house  you  rule  ....  Son,  son,  com- 
mand it. 

GUNNAR,  as  he  ascends  to  the  loft 

O,  spendthrift  fire,  do  you  waft  up  again  ? 
Hallgerd,  what  riot  of  ruinous  chance  will  sate 

you  ?  .  .  .  . 
Let  the  door  stand,  my  mother:  it  is  her  way. 

He  looks  out  at  the  casement. 
Here  's  a  red  kirtle  on  the  lower  roof. 

He  thrusts  with  the  bill  through  the  casement. 

A  MAN'S  VOICE,  far  of 
Is  Gunnar  within? 

44 


THORGRIM  THE  EASTERLING'S 
VOICE,  near  the  casement 

Find  that  out  for  yourselves  : 
I  am  only  sure  his  bill  is  yet  within. 

A  noise  of  falling  is  heard. 

GUNNAR 

The  Easterling  from  Sandgil  might  be  dying  — 
He  has  gone  down  the  roof,  yet  no  feet  helped  him. 

A  shouting  of  many  men  is  heard :  GUNNAR 
starts  back  from  the  casement  as  several 
arrows  fly  in. 

Now  there  are  black  flies  biting  before  a  storm. 
I  see  men  gathering  beneath  the  cart-shed  : 
Gizur  the  White  and  Geir  the  priest  are  there, 
And  a  lean  whispering  shape  that  should  be  Mord. 
I  have  a  sting  for  some  one  — 

He  looses  an  arrow :  a  distant  cry  follows. 

Valgard's  voice.  .  .  . 
A  shaft  of  theirs  is  lying  on  the  roof : 
I  '11  send  it  back,  for  if  it  should  take  root 
A  hurt  from  their  own  spent  and  worthless  weapon 
Would  put  a  scorn  upon  their  tale  for  ever. 

He  leans  out  for  the  arrow. 
45 


RANNVEIG 

Do  not,  my  son :  rouse  them  not  up  again 
When  they  are  slackening  in  their  attack. 

HALLGERD 
Shoot,  shoot  it  out,  and  I  '11  come  up  to  mock  them. 

GUNNAR,  loosing  the  arrow 

Hoia  !  Swerve  down  upon  them,  little  hawk. 

A  shout  follows. 

Now  they  run  all  together  round  one  man  : 
Now  they  murmur  .... 

A  VOICE 

Close  in,  lift  bows  again  : 
He  has  no  shafts,  for  this  is  one  of  ours. 

Arrows  fly  in  at  the  casement. 

GUNNAR 

Wife,  here  is  something  in  my  arm  at  last : 
The  head  is  twisted  — I  must  cut  it  clear. 

STEINVOR    throws    open  the  dais  door  and 
rushes  through  with  a  high  shriek. 

46 


STEINVOR 

Woman,  let  us  out  —  help  us  out  — 

The  burning  comes — they  are  calling  out  forfire. 

She  shrieks  a^ain.  OdDNY  and  ASTRID, 
who  have  come  behind  her,  muffle  her  head 
in  a  kirtle  and  lift  her, 

ASTRID,  turning  as  they  bear  her  out 

Fire  suffuses  only  her  cloudy  brain  : 
The  flare  she  walks  in  is  on  the  other  side 
Of  her  shot  eyes.    We  heard  a  passionate  voice, 
A  shrill  unwomanish  voice  that  must  be  Mord, 
With  "Let  us  burn  him  —  burn  him  house  and  all." 
And  then  a  grave  and  trembling  voice  replied 
"Although  my  life  hung  on  it,  it  shall  not  be." 
Again  the  cunning  fanatic  voice  went  on 
"  I  say  the  house  must  burn  above  his  head." 
And  the  unlifted  voice  "  Why  wilt  thou  speak 
Of  what  none  wishes  :  it  shall  never  be." 

ASTRID  and  ODDNY  disappear  with 
STEINVOR. 

GUNNAR. 

To  fight  with  honest  men  is  worth  much  friendship 
I  '11  strive  with  them  again. 

47 


He  lifts  his  bow  and  loosens  arrows  at  inter- 
vals while  H ALLGERD  and  RANNVEIG 
speak. 

HALLGERD,  in  an  undertone  to  RANN- 
VEIG, looking  out  meanwhile  to  the  left 

Mother,  come  here  — 
Come  here  and  hearken.     Is  there  not  a  foot, 
A  stealthy  step,  a  fumbling  on  the  latch 
Of  the  great  door?     They  come,  they  come, 

old  mother : 
Are  you  not  blithe  and  thirsty,  knowing  they  come 
And  cannot  be  held  back  ?     Watch  and  be  secret. 
To  feel  things  pass  that  cannot  be  undone. 

RANNVEIG 

It  is  the  latch.     Cry  out,  cry  out  for  Gunnar, 
And  bring  him  from  the  loft. 

HALLGERD 

O,  never : 
For  then  they  'd  swarm  upon  him  from  the  roof. 
Leave  him  up  there  and  he  can  bay  both  armies. 
While  the  whole  dance  goes  merrily  before  us 
And  we  can  warm  our  hearts  at  such  a  flare. 

RANNVEIG,  turning  both  ways,  while 
HALLGERD  watches  her  gleefully 

Gunnar,  my  son,  my  son  !     What  shall  I  do.  .  .   . 
48 


ORMILD  enters  from  the  left,  white  and  with 
her  hand  to  her  side,  and  walking  as  one 
sick. 

HALLGERD 

Bah  —  here  's  a  bleached  assault  .... 

RANNVEIG 

O,  lonesome  thing, 
To  be  forgot  and  left  in  such  a  night. 
What  is  there  now  —  are  terrors  surging  still? 

ORMILD 

I  know  not  what  has  gone  :  when  the  men  came 
I  hid  in  the  far  cowhouse.     I  think  I  swooned  .  .  . 
And  then  I  followed  the  shadow.    Who  is  dead  .? 

RANNVEIG 

Go  to  the  bower :  the  women  will  care  for  you. 
ORMILD  totters  up  the  hall  from  pillar  to  pillar. 

ASTRID,  entering  by  the  dais  door 

Now  they  have  found  the  weather-ropes  and 

lashed  them 
Over  the  carven  ends  of  the  beams  outside  : 
They  bear  on  them,  they  tighten  them  with  levers. 
And  soon  they  '11  tear  the  high  roof  off  the  hall. 

49 


GUNNAR 

Get  back  and  bolt  the  women  into  the  bower. 

ASTRID  takes  ORMILD,  who  has  just 
reached  her,  and  goes  out  with  her  by  the 
dais  door,  which  closes  after  them. 

Hallgerd,  go  in :  I  shall  be  here  thereafter. 

HALLGERD 

I  will  not  stir.     Your  mother  had  best  go  in. 

RANNVEIG 
How  shall  I  stir? 

VOICES,  outside  and  gathering  volume 
Ai  .  .  .  Ai  .  .  .  Reach  harder  .  .  .  Ai  .  .  . 

GUNNAR 
Stand  clear,  stand  clear  —  it  moves. 

THE  VOICES 

It  moves  .  .  .  Ai,  Ai  .  .  . 

The  whole  roof  slides  down  rumblingly,  disap- 
pearing with  a  crash  behind  the  wall  of  the 
house.  All  is  dark  above.  Fine  snow  sifts 
down  now  and  then  to  the  end  of  the  play. 

50 


GUNNAR,  handling  his  bow 

The  wind  has  changed  :  *t  is  coming  on  to  snow. 
The  harvesters  will  hurry  in  to-morrow. 

THORBRAND  THORLEIKSSON  appears 
above  the  wall-top  a  little  past  GUNNAR, 
and,  reaching  noiselessly  with  a  sword,  cuts 
GUNNAR'S  bowstring. 

GUNNAR,  dropping  the  bow  and  seizing  his 
bill 

Ay,  Thorbrand,  is  it  thou  ?   That 's  a  rare  blade, 
To  shear  through  hemp  and  gut  .  .  .  Let  your 

wife  have  it 
For  snipping  needle-yarn ;  or  try  it  again. 

THORBRAND,  raising  his  sword 

I  must  be  getting  back  ere  the  snow  thickens : 
So  here  's  my  message  to  the  end  —  or  farther. 
Gunnar,  this  night  it  is  time  to  start  your  journey 
And  get  you  out  of  Iceland  .... 

GUNNAR,  thrusting  at  THORBRAND  with 
the  bill 

I  think  it  is  : 
So  you  shall  go  before  me  in  the  dark. 
Wait  for  me  when  you  find  a  quiet  shelter. 

51 


THORBRAND  i/«^j  backward  from  the  wall 
and  is  heard  to  fall  farther.  Immediately 
ASBRAND  THORLEIKSSON  starts  up  in 
his  place. 

ASBRAND,  striking  repeatedly  with  a  sword 

O,  down,  down,  down  ! 

GUNNAR,  parrying  the  blows  with  the  bill 

Ay,  Asbrand,  thou  as  well  ? 
Thy  brother  Thorbrand  was  up  here  but  now  : 
He  has  gone  back  the  other  way,  maybe  — 
Be  hasty,  or  you  '11  not  come  up  with  him. 
He  thrusts  with   the  bill:  ASBRAND  lifts  a 
shield  before  the  blow. 

Here 's  the  first  shield  that  I  have  seen  to-night. 

The  bill  pierces  the  shield:  A^BRA^J)  disap- 
pears and  is  heard  to  fall.  GUNNAR 
turns  from  the  casement. 

Hallgerd,  my  harp  that  had  but  one  long  string, 
But  one  low  song,  but  one  brief  wingy  flight. 
Is  voiceless,  for  my  bowstring  is  cut  off. 
Sever  two  locks  of  hair  for  my  sake  now. 
Spoil  those  bright  coils  of  power,  give  me  your  hair. 
And  with  my  mother  twist  those  locks  together 
Into  a  bowstring  for  me.     Fierce  small  head, 
Thy  stinging  tresses  shall  scourge  men  forth  by  me. 

52 


HALLGERD 
Does  ought  lie  on  it  ? 

GUNNAR 

Nought  but  my  life  lies  on  it; 
For  they  will  never  dare  to  close  on  me 
If  I  can  keep  my  bow  bended  and  singing. 

HALLGERD,  tossing  back  her  hair 

Then  now  I  call  to  your  mind  that  bygone  blow 
You  gave  my  face ;  and  never  a  whit  do  I  care 
If  you  hold  out  a  long  time  or  a  short. 

GUNNAR 

Every  man  who  has  trod  a  war-ship's  deck, 
And  borne  a  weapon  of  pride,  has  a  proud  heart 
And  asks  not  twice  for  any  little  thing. 
Hallgerd,  I  '11  ask  no  more  from  you,  no  more. 

RANNVEIG,  tearing  off  her  wimple 

She  will  not  mar  her  honour  of  widowhood. 
O,  widows*  manes  are  priceless  ....  Off,  mean 

wimple  — 
I  am  a  finished  widow,  why  do  you  hide  mc  ? 
Son,  son  who  knew  my  bosom  before  hers, 
Look  down  and  curse  for  an  unreverend  thing 

53 


An  old  bald  woman  who  is  no  use  at  last. 
These  bleachy  threads,  these  tufts  of  death's  first 

combing, 
And  loosening  heart-strings  twisted  up  together 
Would  not  make  half  a  bowstring.  Son,  forgive  me. 

GUNNAR 

A  grasping  woman's  gold  upon  her  head 
Is  made  for  hoarding,  like  all  other  gold  : 
A  spendthrift  woman's  gold  upon  her  head 
Is  made  for  spending  on  herself.     Let  be  — 
She  goes  her  heart's  way,  and  I  go  to  earth. 

AUNUND'S  head  rises  above  the  wall  near 
GUNNAR. 

What,  are  you  there? 

AUNUND 

Yea,  Gunnar,  we  are  here. 

GUNNAR,  thrusting  with  the  bill 

Then  bide  you  there. 

AUNUND'S  head  sinks :  THORGEIR'S  rises 
in  the  same  place. 

How  many  heads  have  you  ? 
54 


THORGEIR 

But  half  as  many  as  the  feet  we  grow  on. 

GUNNAR 

And  I  've  not  yet  used  up  {thrusting  again)  all 
my  hands. 

As  he  thrusts  another  man  rises  a  little  farther 
back,  and  leaps  past  him  into  the  loft.  Oth- 
ers follow^  <?«^GUNNAR  is  soon  surrounded 
by  many  armed  men,  so  that  only  the  rising 
and  falling  of  his  bill  is  seen. 

The  threshing-floor  is  full.  .  .  .  Up,  up,  brain-biter ! 

We  work  too  late  to-night  —  up,  open  the  husks. 

O,  smite  and  pulse 

On  their  anvil  heads  : 

The  smithy  is  full. 

There  are  shoes  to  be  made 

For  the  hoofs  of  the  steeds 

Of  the  Valkyr  girls  .... 

FIRST  MAN 
Hack  through  the  shaft  .... 

SECOND  MAN 

Receive  the  blade 

In  the  breast  of  a  shield. 

And  wrench  it  round  .... 

55 


GUNNAR 

For  the  hoofs  of  the  steeds 
Of  the  Valkyr  girls 
Who  race  up  the  night 
To  be  first  at  our  feast, 
First  in  the  play 
With  immortal  spears 
In  deadly  holes  .... 

THIRD  MAN 
Try  at  his  back  .... 

MANY  VOICES,  shouting  in  confusion 

Have   him   down.   .   .   Heels  on  the   bill.   .    . 
Ahui,  Ahui.  .  . 

77?^  bill  does  not  rise. 

HROALD,  with  the  breaking  voice  of  a  young 
man,  high  over  all 

Father  ...  It  is  my  blow  ...  It  is  I  who 
kill  him  .  .  . 

77?^    crowd  parts,    suddenly   silent,    showitig 

GUNN  AR  fallen. 
RANNVEIG  covers  her  face  with  her  hands. 

56 


HALLGERD,  laughing  as  she  leans  forward 
and  holds  her  breasts  in  her  hands 

O,  clear  sweet  laughter  of  my  heart,  flow  out ! 

It  is  so  mighty  and  beautiful  and  blithe 

To  watch  a  man  dying  —  to  hover  and  watch. 

RANNVEIG 

Cease  :  are  you  not  immortal  in  shame  already  ? 
HALLGERD 

Heroes,  what  deeds  ye  compass,  what  great  deeds 
One  man  has  held  ye  from  an  open  door : 
Heroes,  heroes,  are  ye  undefeated  ? 

GIZUR,  an  old  white-bearded  man,  to  the  other 

riders 
We  have  laid  low  to  earth  a  mighty  chief : 
We  have  laboured  harder  than  on  greater  deeds, 
And  maybe  won  remembrance  by  the  deeds 
Of  Gunnar  when  no  deed  of  ours  should  live ; 
For  this  defence  of  his  shall  outlast  kingdoms 
And  gather  him  fame  till  there  are  no  more  men. 

MORD 

Come  down  and  splinter  those  old  birds  his  gods 
That  perch  upon  the  carven  high-seat  pillars, 
Wreck  every  place  his  shadow  fell  upon. 
Rive  out  his  gear,  drive  off  his  forfeit  beasts. 

57 


SECOND  MAN 
It  shall  not  be. 

MANY  MEN 
Never. 

GIZUR 

We  '11  never  do  it : 
Let  no  man  lift  a  blade  or  finger  a  clout  — 
Is  not  this  Gunnar,  Gunnar,  whom  we  have  slain  ? 
Home,  home,  before  the  dawn  shows  all  our  deed. 

The  riders  go  down  quickly  over  the  wall-top, 
and  disappear. 

HALLGERD 

Now  I  shall  close  his  nostrils  and  his  eyes, 
And  thereby  take  his  blood-feud  into  my  hands. 

RANNVEIG 

If  you  do  stir  I  '11  choke  you  with  your  hair. 
I  will  not  let  your  murderous  mind  be  near  him 
When  he  no  more  can  choose  and  does  not  know. 

HALLGERD 

His  wife  I  was,  and  yet  he  never  judged  me  : 
He  did  not  set  your  motherhood  between  us. 
Let  me  alone  —  I  stand  here  for  my  sons. 

58 


RANNVEIG 

The  wolf,  the  carrion  bird,  and  the  fair  woman 

Hurry  upon  a  corpse,  as  if  they  think 

That  all  is  left  for  them  the  grey  gods  need  not. 

She  twines  her  hands  in  HALLGERD'S  hair 
and  draws  her  down  to  the  floor. 

O,  I  will  comb  your  hair  with  bones  and  thumbs, 
Array  these  locks  in  my  right  widow's  way, 
And  deck  you  like  the  bed-mate  of  the  dead. 
Lie  down  upon  the  earth  as  Gunnar  lies. 
Or  I  can  never  match  him  in  your  looks 
And  whiten  you  and  make  your  heart  as  cold. 

HALLGERD 

Mother,  what  will  you  do  ?    Unloose  me  now  — 
Your  eyes  would  not  look  so  at  me  alone. 

RANNVEIG 

Be  still,  my  daughter  .... 

HALLGERD 

And  then.? 

RANNVEIG 

Ah,  do  not  fear-^ 
I  see  a  peril  nigh  and  all  its  blitheness. 
Order  your  limbs  —  stretch  out  your  length  of  beauty, 

59 


Let  down  your  hands  and  close  those  deepening  eyes, 
Or  you  can  never  stiffen  as  you  should. 
A  murdered  man  should  have  a  murdered  wife 
When  all  his  fate  is  treasured  in  her  mouth. 
This  wifely  hair-pin  will  be  sharp  enough. 

HALLGERD,    starting   up    as    RANNVEIG 

half  loosens  her  to  take  a  hair-pin  from 

her  own  head 

She  is  mad,  mad  .  .  .  .  O,  the  bower  is  barred  — 
Hallgerd,  come  out,  let  mountains  cover  you  .... 

She  rushes  out  to  the  left. 

RANNVEIG,  following  her 
The  night  take  you  indeed  .... 

GIZUR,  as  he  enters  from  the  left 

Ay,  drive  her  out ; 
For  no  man's  house  was  ever  better  by  her. 

RANNVEIG 

Is  an  old  woman's  life  desired  as  well  ? 

GIZUR 

W^e  ask  that  you  will  grant  us  earth  hereby 
Of  Gunnar's  earth,  for  two  men  dead  to-night 
To  lie  beneath  a  cairn  that  we  shall  raise. 


60 


RANNVEIG 

Only  for  two  ?     Take  it :  ask  more  of  me. 
1  wish  the  measure  were  for  all  of  you. 

GIZUR 

Your  words  must  be  forgiven  you,  old  mother, 
For  none  has  had  a  greater  loss  than  yours. 
Why  would  he  set  himself  against  us  all  ...  . 

He  goes  out. 

RANNVEIG 

Gunnar,  my  son,  we  are  alone  again. 

She  goes  up  the  hall,  mounts  to  the  loft,  and 
stoops  beside  him. 

O,  they  have  hurt  you  ....  but  that  is  forgot. 
Boy,  it  is  bedtime ;  though  I  am  too  changed. 
And  cannot  lift  you  up  and  lay  you  in. 
You  shall  go  warm  to  bed  —  I  '11  put  you  there. 
There  is  no  comfort  in  my  breast  to-night. 
But  close  your  eyes  beneath  my  fingers'  touch, 
Slip  your  feet  down,  and  let  me  smooth  your  hands 
Then  sleep  and  sleep.     Ay,  all  the  world's  asleep. 

She  rises. 

You  had  a  rare  toy  when  you  were  awake  — 
I  '11  wipe  it  with  my  hair  ....  Nay,  keep  it  so, 

61 


The  colour  on  it  now  has  gladdened  you. 
It  shall  lie  near  you. 

She  raises  the  bill:  the  deep  hum  follows. 

No ;  it  remembers  him, 
And  other  men  shall  fall  by  it  through  Gunnar  : 
The  bill,  the  bill  is  singing  ....  The  bill  sings  ! 

She  kisses  the  weapon,  then  shakes  it  on  high. 

Curtain 


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